Communication facilitator

ABSTRACT

A method for enabling engagement between a first application on a device and a set of contacts associated with a second application on the device, including: receiving, at the first application, an authentication token from the second application, wherein the authentication token is configured for providing an authentication pass to a server when delivered thereto by the first application, thereby allowing the first application access to a set of messaging functionalities available at the server; delivering the authentication token to the server; upon the authentication token having been verified by the server, connecting, using a communication platform, to the server, wherein the communication platform includes communication functionalities configured for enabling communication with other devices; and communicating with contacts of a set of contacts associated with the second application using, via the communication platform, at least one messaging functionality of the set of messaging functionalities.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. PatentApplication No. 61/830,576 filed on Jun. 3, 2013 entitled “GENERATINGREVENUE BY GROWING SALES OF THIRD-PARTY APPLICATIONS”, by Eric Setton,and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/291,332 filed on May 30, 2014 entitled “AUTHENTICATING ATHIRD-PARTY APPLICATION FOR ENABLING ACCESS TO MESSAGINGFUNCTIONALITIES”, by Eric Setton, assigned to the assignee of thepresent application, and incorporated herein in its entirety.

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/291,389 filed May 30, 2014 on entitled “GENERATING REVENUE BYGROWING SALES OF THIRD-PARTY APPLICATIONS”, by Eric Setton, assigned tothe assignee of the present application, and incorporated herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, two or more devices (e.g., mobile devices, tablets) mayhave the same communication enabling application installed thereon whichenables teleconferencing communication between these devices. Thedevices may also have stored thereon a third-party application, such asan application for playing poker singularly or with individuals acrossseveral devices. The users of these devices may play poker against thecomputer or with each other, while also participating in ateleconference call, using the teleconferencing functions as enabled bythe communication enabling application. However, the users of thesedevices would not be able to use the teleconferencing functions(provided by the communication enabling application) while playing thepoker game with each other unless the users are communicativelyconnected via the communication enabling application. Thus, thefunctional features of the communication enabling application are onlyrealized while the communication enabling application is running.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthis specification, illustrate various embodiments and, together withthe Description of Embodiments, serve to explain principles discussedbelow. The drawings referred to in this brief description should not beunderstood as being drawn to scale unless specifically noted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates example devices upon whichembodiments for the following operate, in accordance with an embodiment:authenticating a third-party application for enabling access tomessaging functionalities; enabling engagement between a firstapplication on a device and a set of contacts associated with a secondapplication on the device; and generating revenue by growing sales ofthird-party applications.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates example devices upon whichembodiments for the following operate, in accordance with an embodiment:authenticating a third-party application for enabling access tomessaging functionalities; enabling engagement between a firstapplication on a device and a set of contacts associated with a secondapplication on the device; and generating revenue by growing sales ofthird-party applications.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example device (e.g., mobile device)upon which embodiments for the following operate, in accordance with anembodiment: authenticating a third-party application for enabling accessto messaging functionalities; enabling engagement between a firstapplication on a device and a set of contacts associated with a secondapplication on the device; and generating revenue by growing sales ofthird-party applications.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting a general description of embodimentsin cooperation with a communication enabling application.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an authentication intermediary inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an authentication intermediary, inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram for a method for authenticating a third-partyapplication for enabling access to messaging functionalities, inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a communication facilitator, in accordancewith an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a communication facilitator, in accordancewith an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a method for enabling engagement between afirst application on a device and a set of contacts associated with asecond application on the device, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a messaging functionality distributor, inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 12A is a flow diagram of a method for generating revenue by growingsales of third-party applications, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 12B is a flow diagram of a method for generating revenue by growingsales of third-party applications, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an example computer system with which orupon which various embodiments of the present invention may beimplemented.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While variousembodiments are discussed herein, it will be understood that they arenot intended to be limiting. On the contrary, the presented embodimentsare intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, whichmay be included within the spirit and scope the various embodiments asdefined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in this Description ofEmbodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding. However, embodiments may be practiced withoutone or more of these specific details. In other instances, well knownmethods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described indetail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the describedembodiments.

Notation and Nomenclature

Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the followingdiscussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present Descriptionof Embodiments, discussions utilizing terms such as “receiving”,“validating”, “sending”, “delivering”, “monitoring”, “connecting”,“communicating”, “accessing”, “retrieving”, “generating”, “determining”,“sharing”, “providing”, “enabling”, or the like, often refer to theactions and processes of an electronic computing device (or portionthereof), module or system, such as, but not limited to, anauthentication intermediary, a communication facilitator and a messagingfunctionality distributor (See FIGS. 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11). The electroniccomputing device/module/system transmits, receives, stores, manipulatesand/or transforms signals represented as physical (electrical)quantities within the circuits, components, logic, and the like, of theelectronic computing device/system into other signals similarlyrepresented as physical electrical quantities within the electroniccomputing device/system or within or transmitted to other electroniccomputing devices/systems.

Overview of Discussion

FIGS. 1-3, as well as the brief introductory description below, discussthe operation of two mobile devices communicating with each other usinga communication enabling application, such as Tango™. The discussionturns to a general description of embodiments performing a handshakebetween a third-party application and a communication enablingapplication. (See FIG. 4.) The discussion continues with a generaloverview of embodiments.

The discussion continues with a description of an example authenticationintermediary of a communication enabling application and a method forauthenticating a third-party application for enabling access tomessaging functionalities, in accordance with embodiments. (See FIGS.5-7.) The discussion then turns to a description of an examplecommunication facilitator coupled with a third-party application and amethod for enabling engagement between a first application on a deviceand a set of contacts associated with a second application on thedevice. (See FIGS. 8-10.) The discussion continues with a description ofan example messaging functionality distributor and a method forgenerating revenue by growing sales of third-party applications. (SeeFIGS. 11-12B.) Finally, the discussion concludes with a description ofan example computer system upon which the example authenticationintermediary, the example platform communicator and the examplemessaging functionality distributor and the example methods describedherein operate. (See FIG. 13.)

Devices Communicating Via a Communication Enabling Application

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the devices 100 and 200 participating in a videoconference. In general, video conferencing allows two or more locationsto interact via multi-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously.In various embodiments, the devices 100 and 200 have installed thereon acommunication enabling application, such as Tango™. A communicationenabling application is an application able to be installed on devicesthat provide messaging functions. These messaging functions allow deviceusers to connect with other users over a communication network, viatext, video, voice calls, shared photos, games, music sharing, etc.

For clarity and brevity, the discussion will focus on the components andfunctionality of the device 100. However, the device 200 operates in asimilar fashion as the device 100. In one embodiment, the device 200 isthe same as the device 100 and includes the same components as thedevice 100.

Of note, in one embodiment, the mobile device of FIG. 1 includes thecomponents that are described as belonging to the device 100 in FIG. 1.The functionality of the device 100 during a video conference betweenthe devices 100 and 200 is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and2.

The devices 100 and 200 are any communication devices (e.g., laptop,desktop, smartphones, tablets, TV, etc.) capable of participating in avideo conference. In various embodiments, the device 100 is a hand-heldmobile device, such as smart phone, personal digital assistant (PDA),and the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the device 100, in accordance withembodiments. According to embodiments, the device 100 includes a display110, a camera 150, and a transmitter 310 for transmitting and receivingcommunications. The device 100, in various embodiments, includes any ofthe following components: a microphone 302; an instruction store 304; aspeaker 306; and a global positioning system 308. In variousembodiments, the device 100 is variously coupled with any of thefollowing, as will be described herein: a server; and a third-partyapplication. The server provides services to the communication enablingapplication installed on the device 100. In one embodiment, thethird-party application is installed at the device 100. In anotherembodiment, the third-party application is located external to thedevice 100, though communicatively (via wire and/or wirelessly) coupledthereto.

The display 110 is configured for displaying video captured at thedevice 100. In another embodiment, the display 110 is further configuredfor displaying video captured at the device 200.

The camera 150 captures video at the device 100. The transmitter 310 isfor transmitting data (e.g., control code).

The microphone 302 captures audio at the device 100. The speaker 306generates an audible signal at the device 100.

In one embodiment, the instruction store 304 stores informationassociated with the third-party applications (as described below). Theglobal positioning system 308 determines a location of a device 100. Inanother embodiment, the server (shown in FIG. 4) (in addition to oralternatively to the instruction store 304) stores informationassociated with the third-party applications (as described below).

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the devices 100 and 200 areparticipating in a video conference with one another, in accordance withan embodiment. In various embodiments, more than two devices participatein a video conference with each another.

During the video conference, the camera 250 captures video at the device200. For example, the camera 250 captures video of the user 205 of thedevice 200.

The camera 150 captures video at device 100. For example, the camera 150captures video of the user 105. It should be appreciated that the videocameras 150 and 250 can capture any objects that are within therespective viewing ranges of the cameras 150 and 250. (See thediscussion below with reference to FIG. 2.)

A microphone 302 captures audio signals corresponding to the capturedvideo signal at the device 100. Similarly, a microphone of the device200 captures audio signals corresponding to the captured video signal atthe device 200.

In one embodiment, the video captured at device 200 is transmitted toand displayed on the display 110 of the device 100. For example, a videoof the user 205 is displayed on a first view 112 of the display 110.Moreover, the video of the user 205 is displayed on a second view 214 ofdisplay 210.

The video captured at device 100 is transmitted to and displayed on thedisplay 210 of the device 200. For example, a video of the user 105 isdisplayed on the first view 212 of the display 210. Moreover, the videoof the user 105 is displayed on a second view 114 of the display 110.

In one embodiment, the audio signals captured at the devices 100 and 200are incorporated into the captured video. In another embodiment, theaudio signals are transmitted separate from the transmitted video.

As depicted, the first view 112 is the primary view displayed on thedisplay 110 and the second view 114 is the smaller secondary viewdisplayed on the display 110. In various embodiments, the size of boththe first view 112 and the second view 114 are adjustable. For example,the second view 114 can be enlarged to be the primary view and the firstview 112 can be diminished in size to be the secondary view (the secondview 114). Moreover, either one of views, the first view 112 or thesecond view 114 can be closed or fully diminished such that it is notviewable.

With reference now to FIG. 2, the user 205 of the device 200 iscapturing the image of a bridge 260 (instead of capturing an image ofhimself/herself 205), which is within the viewing range of the camera250. The image of the bridge 260 is depicted at the second view 114 ofthe device 100, and at a first view 212 of the device 200. Additionally,while not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, depending on the setup parameters ofthe devices 100 and 200, the image of the bridge 260 may be displayed inthe second view 214 on the display screen 210 and in the first view 112of the display screen 110, while the image of the user 105 is displayedin the first view 212 on the display screen 210 and the image of theuser 205 is displayed in the first view 112 on the display screen 110.As noted, the images of the objects captured with the video cameras mayor may not be displayed in various views on the display screens of thedevices 100 and 200.

Of note, the components of the device 100 shown in FIG. 3 are used withand each component's functions enabled by a computer system that iscoupled to the components and resides at the device 100, such as thecomputer system 1300 described in FIG. 13.

General Description of Embodiments in Cooperation with a CommunicationEnabling Application

Conventionally, two or more devices (e.g., mobile devices, tablets) mayhave the same communication enabling application installed thereon whichenables teleconferencing communication between these devices. Thedevices may also have stored thereon a third-party application, such asan application for playing poker singularly or with individuals acrossseveral devices. The users of these devices may play poker against thecomputer or with each other, while also participating in ateleconference call, using the teleconferencing functions as enabled bythe communication enabling application. However, the users of thesedevices would not be able to use the teleconferencing functions(provided by the communication enabling application) while playing thepoker game with each other unless the users are communicativelyconnected via the communication enabling application. Thus, thefunctional features of the communication enabling application are onlyrealized while the communication enabling application is running.

Additionally, in conventional technology, the communication enablingapplication provides a service and may have a large user-base. The usersof the user-base are all provided with the same content that can beaccessed inside of the communication enabling application. For example,users can play games together while on a teleconference call (using thecommunication enabling application) and even purchase other applicationswhile using the communication enabling application. However, inconventional technology, there is a limited amount of content that canbe bundled with the communication enabling applications. Thus,communication enabling applications are limited in the quantity offeatures/functions they are able to provide to device users.

Embodiments enable an expansion of the services offered by communicationenabling applications (text messages, video and voice calls, photosharing, music sharing), and enable the functionalities provided by thecommunication enabling applications to be utilized by third-partyapplications. Third-party applications are programs written to workwithin operating systems, but are written by individuals or companiesother than the provider of the operating system. Thus, in the context ofthis application, the communication enabling application referred toherein and the third-party application are different. The communicationenabling application is authored by a first party and the third-partyapplication is authored by a second party, wherein the first party andthe second party are different. Further, according to embodiments, aserver supports the functions of the communication enabling application,as well as expanding upon functions provided to the user by thecommunication enabling application.

Embodiments enable a third-party application (e.g., gaming application)to be launched on a device (e.g., mobile device, tablet, personalcomputer), wherein the user of the device may interact with thethird-party application and a user of a separate mobile device using thesame messaging functionalities provided by a server (wherein the server,as discussed, supports the functions/services provided by acommunication enabling application that is already installed on thedevice). In accordance with embodiments, the server, the communicationenabling application and the third-party application must exchangeauthentication tokens that validate the third-party application'sidentity for purposes of receiving messaging functionalities provided bythe server, prior to the device user being able to use these messagingfunctionalities while interacting with third-party applications.

According to an embodiment, once a user is enabled to use the messagingfunctionalities provided by the server while interacting with thethird-party application, then the device user may use the set ofcontacts listed within the communication enabling application to sendpromotional material to promising contacts (e.g., those contacts likelyto want to purchase the third-party application) of the set of contacts.This promotional material may include offers to the contacts to purchasethe third-party application for installation on their devices. Further,the owner of the communication enabling application may receivecompensation for promotional material being generated, delivered and/orthe third-party application being purchased. The term “owner” is meantto refer to any entity (which may be a business[es] or a person[s])entitled to receive compensation, as described herein, under the law.Thus, embodiments increase sales of third-party applications. Furtherembodiments increase revenue for the owner of the communication enablingapplication.

Pivotal to the operation of embodiments is the authentication of thethird-party application with the server, wherein the server provides themessaging functionalities to the communication enabling application.Upon authentication of the third-party application, the server will alsoprovide these messaging functionalities for use by the third-partyapplication and/or the user of the third-party application.Authentication of the third-party application refers to validating thatthe user of the device upon which the third-party application is beinglaunched is who he/she says that he/she is. That is, it is verified thatthe third-party application is being launched on a device which also hasinstalled thereon the communication enabling application. The serverwill only provide the messaging functionalities to be used by athird-party application and/or the user of the third-party applicationif that third-party application is launched from a device that also hasinstalled thereon the communication enabling application.

During the authentication process, a handshake occurs between thecommunication enabling application and the third-party application,wherein the handshake includes the exchange of authentication tokens.Ultimately, authentication tokens are exchanged between the server, thecommunication enabling application and the third-party application,thereby acknowledging the identity of the third-party application andvalidating the third-party application as being on the same device asthe communication enabling application. Upon this acknowledgement andvalidation, via the exchange of authentication tokens, the third-partyapplication is enabled to use the same messaging functionalities as areprovided to the device user by the communication enabling application.Thus, the authentication tokens are exchanged in the handshake betweenthe communication enabling application and the third-party application.

FIG. 4 illustrates a handshake between a communication enablingapplication 405 (e.g., Tango™) that is already installed on a device 410and a third-party application 415 that is desired to be launched on thedevice 410, in accordance with an embodiment. Of note, the device 410,in one embodiment, is the mobile device 100 or 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2.However, it should be appreciated that the device 410 may be any devicecapable of having installed thereon a communication enabling applicationthat allows users to communicate (e.g., via teleconferencing) with otherdevices having installed thereon the same communication enablingapplication. The handshake 400 entails the exchange of an authenticationtoken 425, identifying the third-party application 415 to the server 420(that supports the communication enabling application's 415functionalities).

A general, high-level example of an implementation of an embodimentfollows. A user of the mobile device 410 (and therefore a user of thecommunication enabling application 405) wishes to launch a third-partyapplication 415 on his mobile device 410. In one example scenario and inaccordance with an embodiment, the user of the mobile device 410 taps onthe “connect” button shown as an icon appearing on the display screen ofthe mobile device 410 (display screen not shown in FIG. 4). The iconrepresents the third-party application 415.

Upon initiating a connection with the third-party application 415 forpurposes of launching the third-party application 415, the communicationenabling application 405 communicates with the server 420 that isdesigned to perform services (e.g., messaging functionalities) for thecommunication enabling application 405 (and designed to perform servicesfor third-party applications once authenticated). The communicationenabling application 405 requests an authentication token from theserver 420. The server 420 sends an authentication token 425 to thecommunication enabling application 405. The communication enablingapplication 405 delivers the authentication token 425 to the third-partyapplication 415. The third-party application 415 sends thisauthentication token 425 to the server 420. Upon receiving theauthentication token 425, the server 420 accepts a connection with thethird-party application 415. Upon accepting a connection with thethird-party application 415, the server 420 provides to the user of thethird-party application 415, for use with the third-party application415, the same functionalities (video conferencing, messaging, variousviewing windows, etc.) provided by the communication enablingapplication 405 to the user of the mobile device 100. These messagingfunctionalities are used in cooperation with the functionalities of thethird-party application 415 (e.g., gaming application). Significantly,in embodiments, it is not necessary for the user to be using (e.g.,signed into) the communication enabling application 405 in order toenjoy the same functionalities provided by the communication enablingapplication 405. Further, in one embodiment, the handshaking occurswithout any typing or input from the user of the device 410. Thus, inone embodiment, a contact of a set of contacts (that are associated withthe communication enabling application 405) of the user of the mobiledevice 410 is invited to purchase and/or play the third-partyapplication without the user ever having to input, or even select, thecontact's name. In another embodiment, the user of the mobile device 410may select one or more contacts from the set of contacts (associatedwith the communication enabling application 405) to which to sendpromotional material regarding purchasing and/or playing the third-partyapplication.

A more detailed description of the system for generating revenue bygrowing sales of third-party applications is found below, including: 1)an authentication intermediary; 2) a communication facilitator; and 3) amessaging functionality distributor.

Referring still to FIG. 4, the authentication intermediary 505 (SeeFIGS. 5 and 6) is located at the communication enabling application 405.The communication facilitator 800 (See FIGS. 8 and 9) is located at thethird-party application 415. The messaging functionality distributor1100 (See FIG. 11) is located at the server 420. (The server 420supports the messaging functionalities that are provided through thecommunication enabling application 405.) The authentication intermediary505, the communication facilitator 800 and the messaging functionalitiesdistributor 1100 work together to validate a third-party application'sability to receive the messaging functionalities from the server 420,provide promotional material to a list of contacts garnered from thecommunication enabling application 405 to increase sales of athird-party application 415 and provide compensation to the owner of thecommunication enabling application 405 for the sending of thepromotional material and/or the purchase of the third-party application415. Further, the communication enabling application 405 and thethird-party application 415 have installed thereon the necessary APIs tocommunicate with each other.

Embodiments enable various implementations, some of which are describedimmediately below. A high-level example of an implementation of anembodiment is as follows. A child, “Paul”, picks up his mobile phone andsees that he has just received an invite, through his communicationenabling application (e.g., Tango™) and from his father, to purchase andplay a “Deer Hunting” gaming application. Paul taps with his finger ontothe message image of the Deer Hunting application that appears on hismobile phone display screen and is directed to the URL at which Paul canpurchase the Deer Hunting application (at an application store). Paulthen purchases the Deer Hunting application. Now, Paul and his fathercan play the Deer Hunting game, either individually, or together. In oneembodiment, every time Paul, his father, or both of them log into theDeer Hunting application, each is presented with each other's score.This presentation of scores occurs through the server 420 to thethird-party application 415. The messaging functionalities that areavailable to the communication enabling application 405 are alsoavailable for user with the third-party application. Thus, Paul and hisfather can send messages back and forth to each other. For example, Paulcan tell his father, “Hey, I just beat your high score”. This taunt mayentice Paul's father to log into the application to play the game,become better, and keep up with his son's gaming talents.

Further, with reference to FIG. 4 and continuing with the this DeerHunting application example, when Paul's father initially launched theDeer Hunting third-party application on his device 410, a request for anauthentication token was sent to the communication enabling application405. The server 420 returned an authentication token 425 to thecommunication enabling application 405. The communication enablingapplication 415 sent this authentication token 425 to the third-partyapplication 415. The third-party application 415 sent the authenticationtoken 425 to the server 420. The server 420, upon receipt of theauthentication token 425, enabled the messaging functionalitiesavailable for use in the communication enabling application 405 to beused, from the server 420, by the third-party application 415 and/or theuser of the third-party application 415. In one embodiment, thehandshake occurs without Paul's father actually being signed into andusing the communication enabling application 405. In another embodiment,the handshake occurs while Paul's father is signed into thecommunication enabling application 405, and the application is running.Paul's father, having already verified that he is allowed to use themessaging functionalities provided by the server 420 to the third-partyapplication 415, now causes a recommendation to purchase and play theDeer Hunting application to be sent to Paul's device. Paul's device alsohas installed thereon the communication enabling application 405.Further, it should be appreciated that once Paul “launches” the purchaseand installation of the third-party application 415 on his device,Paul's device also performs handshake as described herein. Further, inone embodiment, the handshake occurs at Paul's device without Paul beingsigned into the communication enabling application on his device. In yetanother embodiment, the handshake occurs at Paul's device while Paul issigned into the communication enabling application on his device and thecommunication enabling application is running.

In another embodiment, Paul exits the communication enablingapplication, and then goes to an application store via a website URL topurchase the third-party application. In yet another embodiment, theowner of the third-party application only sells the third-partyapplication at a particular vendor's application store. In anotherembodiment, Paul automatically receives the Deer Hunting application,once Paul's father sends a message to Paul indicating that he wants toplay the Deer Hunting gaming application with Paul or play the DeerHunting gaming application in parallel with Paul playing the DeerHunting gaming application.

In another high-level example of an implementation of an embodiment, a“War” application offers to players the opportunity to purchaseaccessories to the gaming application, such as, bigger guns, more tanks,greater powers, etc. Once a player, Sarah, purchases these accessories,other players of War, who also have installed on their device the samecommunication enabling application as Sarah has installed on her device,are notified via the third-party application, War, of Sarah's purchase.(Of note, it is not necessary for the communication enabling applicationto be running while messages are being sent between players of the Wargaming application, using the messaging functionalities provided by theserver 420.) Sarah's friend, Bill, sees the notification of Sarah'spurchase of the power to become invisible. This prompts Bill to purchasehis own accessories to the gaming application, War. In particular, Billpurchases the power to breath underwater as well as guns that spraypurple ink on objects (in order to neutralize Sarah's ability to remaininvisible in the gaming application). In one embodiment, thecommunication enabling application then receives money from the owner ofthe third-party application that represents 10% of the purchase price ofthe War gaming application. Thus, in one embodiment, for every dollaramount purchased in accessories by players, and/or players beingdetermined to have been enticed to spend for such accessories throughthe promotional material presented from the War gaming applicationand/or through the communication enabling application itself, the ownerof the communication enabling application receives a predeterminedportion (e.g., percentage, set amount, etc.) of that dollar amount.

Thus, embodiments provide enhanced game playing, with enhanced sales andthus a revenue stream for the owner of the third-party application, aswell as a revenue stream for the owner of the communication enablingapplication.

In one embodiment, during the handshaking process described above, theserver 540 sends to the user of the mobile device 410 the user's list ofcontacts and allows the user to communicate with contacts on the list ofcontacts. In one embodiment, the contacts who are invited to play agaming application are selectively and intelligently filtered from thecontacts found in the communication enabling application. For example,in one communication enabling application installed on a device, aplayer of a third-party application that is also installed on the devicehas four hundred contacts listed in the communication enablingapplication. However, ninety percent of those contacts the player doesnot communicate with on a regular basis. Thus, in one embodiment, onlythose contacts that the player is actively engaged with are targeted foran invitation to purchase the third-party application. This regularinteraction may be determined by, for example, the number of messagessent between the user of the device and the contact(s). In anotherembodiment, the user of the device having the communication enablingapplication installed thereon invites a particular person to purchasethe third-party application, wherein that particular person has aparticular ID already assigned in the address book of the communicationenabling application. Any number of parameters may be created todetermine which contacts are invited to purchase a third-partyapplication. For example, the parameters may involve any, but notlimited to, the following: the number of text messages between the userof the device and the contact(s); the number of calls between the userof the device and the contact(s); the number of minutes per call; theday of the week on which the call was made; the time of day that thecall was made; how frequently a contact views a certain genre ofthird-party application games; the contact's age; the contact's countryof residence; the language with the contact speaks; and how much and/orfrequently a contact purchases offered product(s). For example, thehigher the ratio of the purchasing performed by a contact of thoseproducts offered to the contact, the more likely that the third-partyapplication is going to present itself to the contact for purchasing.Thus, in one embodiment, even though a contact is considered to be afrequent contact and given multiple opportunities to purchase variousthird-party applications, if the contact never purchases a third-partyapplication, embodiments will not send invitations to that contactanymore.

When a contact receives an invitation via a message over thecommunication enabling application, embodiments provide the contact,upon the receipt of the indication that the third-party application isdesired by the contact to be installed on the contact's device, with aURL (e.g., for an application store) at which the contact may access(via installing) and/or purchase the gaming application. In anotherembodiment, the URL may be used to directly launch the gamingapplication. Thus, embodiments provide a graceful experience for thecontact attempting to install or play the gaming application to whichhe/she has been invited to purchase and/or play.

In one embodiment, the popularity of the application is a considerationin determining if an invitation is sent to contact(s) associated withthe communication enabling application. For example, a certain gamingapplication is known to be purchased by 80% of those to whom it isoffered. Embodiments may invite a contact to purchase the popular gamingapplication, even though the contact normally only purchases about 14%of the gaming applications to which he/she is introduced. Conversely, ifa gaming application is found to not be popular, then embodiments maynot send an invitation for a contact to purchase the unpopular gamingapplication, even though the contact normally purchases offered gamingapplications at a rate of 75%.

In one embodiment, the invitation to purchase the third-partyapplications is a message (using a messaging functionality), sent as anytype of composite media (e.g., animations, text, picture, video), eitherin real-time or asynchronous, either one-to-one or in a group, and/orinitiated from a player or from the third-party application to a portionof the contact list, etc. For example, the message could contain a linkthat, once clicked upon, would take the invited contact to the correctthird-party application store. Additionally, or alternatively, theinvited contact could be invited to a webpage, or some other accessiblelocation at which the third-party application would be found. In oneexample of a real-time communication being initiated, Bob and Joe areplaying a poker game (third-party application). The game of pokerinvolves the reading of a person's behavior, such as, for example,looks, bluffs, speech, etc. Thus, embodiments provide, through themessaging functionalities provided from the server 540 and/or thecommunication enabling application, a voice channel and a video channelduring the playing of the Poker gaming application, thereby enhancingthe users' experiences. Other messaging functionalities include theability to replay messages.

Conventionally, an email might be sent to a contact of a set of contactsto provide a product offering. According to embodiments, sendingmessages through the communication enabling application, such that themessages resemble those messages of a SMS, entices the user of thedevice who receives the messages to open the messages. The messagesresembling an SMS has a higher likelihood of being opened up and is lessexpensive than sending an email or an SMS.

In one embodiment, a contact's social profile may be accessed by anotheruser of the communication enabling application. This accessed content ofthe contact's social profile may encourage more access to particularthird-party applications. For example, the social profile may giveexamples of the contact's likes and dislikes, thereby influencing othersto investigate the nature of the contact's likes and dislikes, leadingto increased sales revenues for applications.

In one embodiment, the communication enabling application includestherein one or more stores at which game accessories may also bepurchases.

Embodiments also enable the concept of cross-promotion of products. Forexample, in one embodiment, a user of a communication enablingapplication may target a particular user of a first third-partyapplication to invite that particular user to use a second third-partyapplication that he/she may also like. For example, a user of a duckhunter third-party application might be invited to purchase and/or try adeer hunter third-party application. In one embodiment, the owner of thedeer hunter third-party application pays the owner of the communicationenabling application to send an invitation to a contact to purchase thedeer hunter third-party application since the contact already has a duckhunting application installed on his device. Thus, embodiments enable,without cost, an increase of traffic to a particular new game or aparticular new application update.

In one embodiment, the concept of trading impressions is available forimplementation. A third-party application may negotiate with anotherthird-party application for an impression trade. For example, a birdwatching application may trade impressions with a car drivingapplication. For some fee, the car driving application will showpromotions for the bird watching application at its car drivingapplication, and vice versa. Or, in another embodiment, every time thata bird watching application provides a car driving application promotionat its application, then the car driving application will provide a birdwatching promotion at its application. Thus, while the car drivingapplication and the bird watching application are third-partyapplications, the server and/or the communication enabling applicationwill act as a broker for the contract for the terms of an exchange ofpromotional material between the car driving application and the birdwatching application. In other words, the broker (server and/or thirdparty application) regulates the appearance of promotional material ateach gaming application, according a preprogrammed instructions(preprogrammed according to a contract between the owners of thethird-party applications). In another embodiment, the owners of thethird-party applications do not enter into a contract; embodimentscreate the promotional sharing events automatically, according topreprogrammed instructions (e.g., “Only advertise a first gamingapplication at a second gaming application that is sufficientlydissimilar to the first gaming application”, wherein the “sufficiently”is determined according to a predetermined value made up of accumulatedsums assigned to various events and circumstances.). Of note, there mayany number of preprogrammed instructions for sharing promotional events.

In one embodiment, the server and/or the communication enablingapplication provides to a user of the third-party application any of,but not limited to being, the following: an availability of thecontact's social profile; an availability of content sections of thethird-party application; inserts to be placed within the gamingapplication while playing; and messaging services available to be usedbefore, during and after the playing of the gaming application.

In one embodiment, a user of a device launches a third-partyapplication. The third-party application, within its screen display tothe user, has therein a “Connect” button to a communication enablingapplication (e.g., Tango™).

Thus, embodiments provide a method for increasing users of acommunication enabling application.

In another implementation example, Charlie installs and/or plays a SandCastle application. The Sand Castle application is co-branded with thecommunication enabling application, and thus is able to provide some ofthe functionalities provided by the communication enabling application.Charlie addresses an invitation to his daughter, Elise, to purchase theSand Castle application; Charlie sends an audio/video message to Eliseover the communication enabling application to encourage Elise topurchase the Sand Castle application. Elise receives the audio/videomessage by hearing and seeing Charlie invite her to play the Sand Castleapplication with him.

In another embodiment, the server and/or the communication enablingapplication provides messages that are shown during the playing of thethird-party application. For example, these messages may be a report ofa player's score. These messages encourage social interaction. This hasthe effect of encouraging players who are bored with the gamingapplication, to become re-engaged with the gaming application, thusextending the lifetime of the gaming application.

In another embodiment, the server and/or communication enablingapplication enables a player of a gaming application to request helpwith his/her play from contacts of the communication enablingapplication who are also playing the gaming application.

In one embodiment, a fee is charged, communicated through the serverand/or the communication enabling application, when a user of a device,which has the communication enabling application installed thereon,invites a contact to participate in a third-party application that isalso installed on the device. For example, a fee may be charged in anyof the following, non-limiting ways: cost per click; cost perimpression; and cost per install.

In one embodiment, a fee is charged, communicated through the serverand/or the communication enabling application, to the third-partyapplication developer for each installation of the developed third-partyapplication that is a result of being invited via, directly orindirectly, the communication enabling application. Additionally, feesmay be charged for messages that are sent via the server and/orcommunication enabling application and are “clicked” on by a contactassociated with the communication enabling application. For example, athousand third-party applications are installed due to invitations beingissued through the server and/or the communication enabling applicationto contacts associated with the communication enabling application topurchase the third-party application; a fee is charged to the owner ofthe third-party application according to the methods for calculating thefee amounts described herein.

In another embodiment, a fee is charged by the number of buckets ofmessages sent. For example, in one embodiment, if less than a thousandmessages were sent, it is predetermined that the sender of the messagesis not to be charged a fee. However, if 50,000 messages were sent, then,in one embodiment, a going rate per message is charged to the user ofthe communication enabling application. In yet another embodiment, if acertain quantity of money for purchases is exceeded within a third-partyapplication installed on the same device and using the samefunctionalities as the communication enabling application, then theaccount of the user of the device is charged.

Thus, embodiments use an invite mechanism, as well as a collaborativemechanism between the server, the communication enabling application andthe third-party application, for generating a revenue stream.

Of significance, according to embodiments, it is not necessary for theusers of the devices to be logged into the communication enablingapplication in order to receive the communication services normallyprovided by the communication enabling application. Thus, in oneembodiment, the users of the devices interact with each other whileplaying using the same gaming application (accessed by both devices);the users are interacting with each other, using the messagingfunctionalities provided by the server described herein, without beinglogged into the communication enabling application (which is alsoinstalled on both devices).

Section One: An Authentication Intermediary and Method forAuthenticating a Third-Party Application for Enabling Access toMessaging Functionalities Example Authentication Intermediary

The communication enabling application is located at a device(s), suchas, but not limited to, the following devices: mobile phone; tablet;desktop; and laptop. The communication enabling application providesmessaging functionalities available for use to users of devices thathave installed thereon the communication enabling application. Examplemessaging functionalities include, but are not limited to, thefollowing: video conferencing, including audio and video streams;presenting message content in a selectable form, in a selectable view(See FIGS. 1 and 2 for first view and second view possibilities);presenting promotional language for enticing a user of a device topurchase an application; and monitoring compensation to be garnered fromthe purchase of an application that was promoted via the messagingfunctionalities.

An authentication intermediary is located at the communication enablingapplication. The authentication intermediary is the mediator of theexchange of authentication tokens between the third-party application,the communication enabling application and the server. The completion ofthis authentication token exchange provides the ability for thethird-party application to access a server, and use, therefrom, the samemessaging functionalities that are available for the communicationenabling application to access and use. In another embodiment, thecompletion of this authentication token exchange provides the abilityfor the third-party application to access the server, and use, therefromsome of the same and some different messaging functionalities that areavailable for the communication enabling application to access and use.In yet another embodiment, the completion of the authentication tokenexchange provides the ability for the third-party application to accessthe server, and use, therefrom different messaging functionalities thatare available for the communication enabling application to access anduse

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an authentication intermediary 505 of acommunication enabling application 500, in accordance with anembodiment. Of note, the communication enabling application 500 is thatcommunication enabling application 405 described with relation to FIG.4. The authentication intermediary 505 includes, and as will bedescribed herein, the following: an application launching requestreceiver 510; a validator 515; and an authentication token deliverer530. The validator 515, in accordance with embodiments, includes: anapplication launching request indication sender 520; and anauthentication token receiver 525. In various embodiments, theauthentication intermediary 505 optionally includes any of thefollowing: a contact provider 605; an interaction monitor 610; and afiltered subset provider 615.

With reference still to FIGS. 5 and 6, the foregoing components of theauthentication intermediary 505 will be discussed. Additionally, itshould be noted that the “first application” 565, as will be discussed,refers to a third-party application. Whereas the “second application”500 refers to a communication enabling application, such as, but notlimited to, a Tango™ application.

The application launching request receiver 510 receives, at the secondapplication 500, a first application launching request 575 for anestablishment of a connection between the first application 565 and aserver 540. The connection enables a set of messaging functionalities545 that reside at the server 540 and that are available forimplementation by the second application 500 to be available forimplementation by the first application 565. The first applicationlaunching request 575, in one embodiment, is a result of the user 555pressing on the “connect” button 570 appearing as a selectable button ona display 590, wherein the display is attached to, via wire and/orwirelessly, a device 595, and wherein the connect button 570 isassociated with the first application 565. Of note, the device 595includes the communication enabling application 500 installed thereon.The device 595 may be any device capable of providing a medium forcommunication over a network (e.g., mobile phone, tablet, personalcomputer, laptop, etc.). In one embodiment, overlaid on the icon thatrepresents the first application 565 is the connect button 570. (Itshould be appreciated that any number of methods known in the art formaking selections of data through a display screen at a device may beused.) The connect button 570 is selectable by any number of knownselection means, including but not limited to, pressing, tapping,clicking, using a keyboard function, audible selections, etc. The“establishment of a connection” between the first application 565 andthe server 540 refers to the establishment of a point of access for thefirst application 565 to access the messaging functionalities 545 at theserver 540. This set of messaging functionalities 545 represent the samemessaging functionalities available at the mobile devices 100 and 200described in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, the set of messagingfunctionalities 545 enable communication, via teleconferencing, thatincludes audio and video functions. Additionally, the set of messagingfunctionalities 545 includes the ability of the first application 565 tobe displayed in various views (e.g., the first view and the second viewsof display screens described in FIGS. 1 and 2). Furthermore, moremessaging functionalities (e.g., providing promotional offers, providingpurchasing abilities) will be described herein with regard to thesection discussing the server 540 below.

The validator 515 helps determine that the user 555 of the firstapplication 565 is allowed to access the set of messagingfunctionalities 545 from the server 540. The validator 515 determineswhether or not the user 555 of the device 595 is who the user 555 saysthat he/she is. The validator 515 initiates the creation of anauthentication token 512. For example, the application launching requestindication sender 520 sends an indication (as seen at 535), to theserver 540, of the first application launching request 575. The server540, recognizing that this indication 535 of the first applicationlaunching request 575 came from the second application 500 (the firstapplication launching request 575 having been initiated by the user555), returns an authentication token 512 to the second application 500.The authentication token 512, represents what would be an authenticationpass that allows the first application 565 access to the set ofmessaging functionalities 545 at the server 540, if delivered to theserver 540 from the first application 565.

Of note, the authentication token 512, in one embodiment, may berevoked, in various instances. For example, if it is determined thatthat system needs to be more secure and/or the system was not verysecure initially, then embodiments may require that the authenticationtoken 512 expire within two minutes, which would require an almostimmediate authentication to occur. However, in another embodiment, theauthentication token 512 may be programmed not expire for an entireyear.

The authentication token receiver 525 receives the authentication token512 from the server 540. The authentication token deliverer 530, of thesecond application 500, delivers the authentication token 512 to thefirst application 565.

In one embodiment, the contact provider 605 provides a set of contactsto the first application 565, wherein the set of contacts 620 isassociated with the second application 500. The set of contacts 620 isat least a portion of those contacts known to the second application 500to also be using the second application 500. It should be appreciatedthat the set of contacts 620 may be one or more contacts. The set ofcontacts 620 represents users (which include the set of contacts 620) ofother devices on which the second application 500 (a.k.a., thecommunication enabling application described herein [See FIGS. 1-3]), isinstalled. In another embodiment, the set of contacts 620 includes alist of contacts (associated with other devices) that reside at thedevice 595, but do not have the same communication enabling applicationinstalled on their devices as that communication enabling application500 that is installed on the device 595.

The interaction monitor 610 monitors the interaction between the set ofcontacts 620 associated with the second application 500 and the user 555of the second application 500. The interaction that is being monitoredincludes any of the following types of interaction: a quantity ofmessages (e.g., text, voice) exchanged between the user 555 of thesecond application 500 and the set of contacts 620; the quantity of timeper message exchanged between the user 555 of the second application 500and the set of contacts 620; and the temporal factors (e.g., weekday,weekend, business hours) associated with messages exchanged between theuser 555 of the second application 500 and the set of contacts 620.

The filtered subset provider 615 provides, to the first application 565,filtered subsets of the set of contacts 620 of the first application565, based on the monitoring performed by the interaction monitor 610.For example, the filtered subset provider 615 may analyze the monitoredcalls between the user of the device upon which the second application500 is installed and the set of contacts 520, and group together,according to preprogrammed instructions, those contacts of the set ofcontacts 520 for which the calls lasted longer than 2 minutes. As willbe discussed herein, embodiments may send customized messages to theresulting filtered contacts.

Of note, the server 540 and the first application 565 (a.k.a.,third-party application) both provide stores for holding information,such as, but not limited to, pictures, XML, messages, etc. Further, thestores may also hold a list of virtual items that the user 555 of thedevice 595 has purchased and/or of which the user 555 has ownership.Additionally, the stores may also store a list of items that have notyet been purchased by anyone. Once the authentication token 512 isdelivered to the server 540, the tango server 540 shares the informationthat it has with the first application 565 and also provides messagingfunctionalities 545 for the use by the first application 565.

In one embodiment, a user 555 of the device 595 having the communicationenabling application 500 thereon may opt out of providing personalinformation about his/her interaction with the first application 565 orother third-party applications. Various options are provided to give theuser 555 choices on what information he/she will allow to be revealed.In one embodiment, a list of on/off buttons are provided to the user 555for selection, the selection of which either allows or disallows certaindata is to be disclosed. In various embodiments, these choices may bepresented to the user on a case by case basis, or a certain “default”decision (e.g., always “on” unless deactivated to “off”) may be chosenand is activated unless deactivated. Thus, a player's score, inembodiments, may always be shared, sometimes be shared or never beshared, depending on the user's/player's preferences.

Example Operation of Method for Authenticating a Third-Party Applicationfor Enabling Access to Messaging Functionalities

The following discussion sets forth in detail some example methods ofoperation of embodiments. With reference to FIGS. 5-7, the flow diagramof method 700 illustrates an example procedure used by variousembodiments. Method 700 includes some procedures that, in variousembodiments, are carried out by a processor under the control ofcomputer-readable and computer-executable instructions. In this fashion,procedures described herein and in conjunction with these flow diagrams,alone or in combination, are, or may be, implemented using a computer,in various embodiments. The computer-readable and computer-executableinstructions can reside in any tangible computer readable storage media.Some non-limiting examples of tangible computer readable storage mediainclude random access memory, read only memory, magnetic disks, andoptical disks, solid-state disks, any or all of which may be employedwithin a virtualization infrastructure. The computer-readable andcomputer-executable instructions, which reside on tangible computerreadable storage media, are used to control or operate in conjunctionwith, for example, one or some combination of processors of a virtualmachine. It is appreciated that the processor(s) may be physical orvirtual or some combination (it should also be appreciated that avirtual processor is implemented on physical hardware). Althoughspecific procedures are disclosed in method 700, such procedures areexamples. That is, embodiments are well suited to performing variousother procedures or variations of the procedures recited in method 700,alone or in combination. Likewise, in some embodiments, the proceduresin method 700, alone or in combination, may be performed in an orderdifferent than presented and/or not all of the procedures described inone or more of these flow diagrams may be performed. It is furtherappreciated that procedures described in method 700, alone or incombination, may be implemented in hardware, or a combination ofhardware with firmware and/or software.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method 700 for authenticating athird-party application for enabling access to messagingfunctionalities, in accordance with an embodiment. Although specificprocedures are disclosed in method 700, embodiments are well suited toperforming various other procedures or variations of the proceduresrecited in method 700. It is appreciated that the procedures in method700 may be performed in an order different than presented, that not allof the procedures in method 700 may be performed, and that additionalprocedures to those illustrated and described may be performed. All of,or a portion of, the procedures described by method 700 can beimplemented by a processor or computer system executing instructionswhich reside, for example, on computer-usable/readable media. Thefollowing discussion of method 700 references FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 unlessspecifically noted otherwise.

At step 705 of method 700, in one embodiment and as described herein, afirst application launching request 575 is received at the secondapplication 500. The first application launching request 575 is for anestablishment of a connection between the first application 565 and aserver 540. The connection enables the set of messaging functionalities545 that reside at the server 540 and that are available forimplementation by the second application 500 to be available forimplementation by the first application 565.

At step 710 of method 700, in one embodiment and as described herein, avalidation of the user 555 of the first application 565 is allowed toaccess the set of messaging functionalities 545. The validating, at step710 includes: sending an indication of the first application launchingrequest 575, from the second application 500, to said server 540; andreceiving an authentication token 512 from the server 540, wherein theauthentication token 512 is configured for providing an authenticationpass to the server 540 when delivered thereto by the first application565, thereby allowing the first application 565 access to the set ofmessaging functionalities 545.

At step 715 of method 700, in one embodiment and as described herein,the authentication token 512 is delivered, by the second application500, to the first application 565.

At step 720 of method 700, in one embodiment and as described herein,the set of contacts 620 is provided to the first application 565,wherein the set of contacts 620 is associated with the secondapplication 500. It should be appreciated, and as is described herein,that the set of contacts 620, in various embodiments, may or may nothave the communication enabling application installed thereon as thecommunication enabling application 500 installed on the device 595. Inthis manner, and as will be described herein with respect to Section 2below, when the set of contacts are used by the first application 565(a.k.a., third party application) to send to one of more contacts of theset of contacts 620 promotional material encouraging the one or morecontacts to purchase the first application 565, if these contacts do nothave the communication enabling application installed thereon, thesecontacts may also receive promotional material encouraging thesecontacts to install the communication enabling application.

At step 725 of method 700, in one embodiment and as described herein,the interaction between the set of contacts 620 associated with thesecond application 500 and the user 555 of the second application 500 ismonitored. Based on this monitoring, filtered subsets of the set ofcontacts 620 are provided to the first application 565. In oneembodiment, the monitoring of the interaction at step 725 includesmonitoring any of the following: a quantity of messages exchangedbetween the user of the first application 565 and the set of contacts620; a quantity of time per message exchange between the user 555 of thefirst application 565 and the set of contacts 620; and temporal factorsassociated with message exchanges between the user 555 of the firstapplication 565 and the set of contacts 620.

Thus, embodiments provide a system and method for providing anintermediary for authenticating a third-party application for enablingaccess to messaging functionalities, through the exchange of anauthentication token 512 between the server 540, the second application500 (a.k.a., communication enabling application 500) and the firstapplication 565 (a.k.a., third-party application).

Section Two: A Communication Facilitator and Method for EnablingEngagement Between a First Application on a Device and a Set of ContactsAssociated with a Second Application on the Device Example CommunicationFacilitator

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a communication facilitator 800, in accordancewith an embodiment. The communication facilitator 800 is located at thefirst application 565 (a.k.a., third-party application). Thecommunication facilitator 800 includes, and as will be described herein:an authentication token receiver 805; an authentication token deliverer810; a connector 815; and a communicator 820. In various embodiments,the communication facilitator 800 optionally includes any of thefollowing: a criteria accessor 906; a contact retriever 908; a channelcommunicator 910; a promotional language generator 912; a promotionallanguage sender 914; a compensation determiner 916; and an informationsharer 918.

With reference still to FIGS. 8 and 9, the foregoing components of thecommunication facilitator 800 will be discussed. The authenticationtoken receiver 805 receives, at the first application 565, anauthentication token (e.g., authentication token 512 of FIGS. 5 and 6.)from the second application 500. The authentication token 512 providesan authentication pass to the server 540, when delivered thereto by thefirst application 565. The authentication token 512, providing “anauthentication pass”, once delivered to the server 540, allows the firstapplication 565 to access the set of messaging functionalities 545available at the server 540. The authentication token 512 that was sentto the second application 500 by the server 540 identifies, and therebyvalidates, the user 555 (verifies that the user 555 is who the user 555says that he/she is) of the second application 500; upon validation,information is allowed to flow from the server 540 to the firstapplication 565 (that also resides on the device 595 of the user 555).Such validation also allows the first application 565 to access contacts835 (for example, contacts 835A, 835B, and 835C) from the list of theset of contacts 620, while using the set of messaging functionalities545 available at the server 540 and the communication platform 825located at the communication facilitator 800.

The authentication token deliverer 810 delivers the authentication token512 to the server 540.

The connector 815, after the authentication token 512 having beenverified by the server 540, connects, using the communication platform825, to the server 540, wherein the communication platform 825 includescommunication functionalities that enable communication with otherdevices. The communication functionalities of the communication platform825 operate in cooperation with the set of messaging functionalities 545and enable the communication with the other devices, that may be mobiledevices, tablets, etc.

The communicator 820 communicates with the set of contacts 620associated with the second application 500 using, via the communicationplatform 825, at least one messaging functionality of the set ofmessaging functionalities 545.

In one embodiment, the criteria accessor 906 accesses a set of contactcriteria 904 at the first application 565, wherein the set of contactcriteria 904 defines for which of the contacts from the set of contacts835 that contact information is to be retrieved. The set of contactcriteria 904 may be, but is not limited to being, any of the following:one or more predefined interactions between the user 555 and at leastone contact of the set of contacts 620; one or more predefinedinteractions between at least one contact of the set of contacts 620 andapplications other than the second application 500; a definedrelationship with the user 555 (e.g., mother, father, son, daughter,best friend), wherein the relationship is defined within the secondapplication 500; and a predefined threshold score for a gamingapplication.

In one embodiment, the second application 565 stores informationregarding the set of contacts 620, including, but not limited to, thefollowing: interaction history of at least one contact of the set ofcontacts 620 with the user 555 and/or with other applications (e.g.,purchasing history, scoring history, messaging history with the user,etc.); and a predefined relationship with the user 555. In anotherembodiment, the server 540 stores information regarding the set ofcontacts 620 for the foregoing instances. The server 540 may storedifferent types of content in differing forms, such as, but not limitedto being: pictures; text; XML; and video.

In one embodiment, the contact information refers to informationindicating how to contact at least one contact of the set of contacts620. For instance, the contacts' phone number may be retrieved.

In one embodiment, the contact retriever 908 retrieves the correspondingcontact information 920 for contacts, based upon the set of contactcriteria 904.

In one embodiment, the channel communicator 910 communicates, via acommunication channel 902 of the communication platform 825, with thecontacts 835A, 835B and 835C located at a plurality of devices 925(plurality of devices 925A, 925B and 925C, respectively), other than thefirst device, such as device 595. The communication channel 902 is asecure channel enabling communication from the first application 565 toat least one contact of the set of contacts 620. The communicationchannel 902 is just one communication functionality 830 making up thecommunication platform 825. Other communication functionalities include,but are not limited to being such, the following (and as will bedescribed below): presenting to users of other devices 925 purchasinginformation; and providing a means for receiving compensation for apredefined occurrence. With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, contact 835Acontrols device 925A, contact 835B controls device 925B and contact 835Ccontrols device 925C.

In one embodiment, the promotional language generator 912 sendspromotional language to at least one contact of the set of contacts 620.The promotional language supports a purchase of the first application565 by the at least one contact. For example, a promotional languagegenerator 912 sends encouraging words, such as, “Buy this app., it'sgreat!”, to Bob, a friend of Bill's (the user 555). It should beappreciated that the promotional language may be any type of languagethat encourages the purchase of the third-party application. Thispromotional language may be such that it includes a discounted offer, anoffer with a reward (gift) as an incentive, a description of thecontact's peer group using the application, etc.

In one embodiment, the promotional language sender 914 sends thepromotional language to the at least one contact.

In one embodiment, the compensation determiner 916 determinescompensation to be received for generating the promotional languageand/or the purchase of the first application 565 by the at least onecontact. For example, in one embodiment, each time that thecommunication facilitator 800 generates promotional language toinfluence a contact to purchase the first application 565, the owner ofthe second application 500 receives a preset amount in compensation. Inone embodiment, this compensation can be money, such as one dollar foreach time promotional language is sent to a contact. For instance, ifthe communication facilitator 800 sends five instances of promotionallanguage to five different contacts on the list of the set of contacts620, and it is predetermined that each time promotional language is sentout regarding the first application 565 the owner(s) of the firstapplication 565 owe the owner(s) of the second application 500 onedollar, then the owners of the first application 565 owe the owners ofthe second application 500 five dollars.

In another example, in one embodiment, each time that a contactpurchases an application download for his device, such as purchasing thefirst application 565, in response to promotional language being sent tothe contact, then it is predetermined that the owner of the purchasedapplication downloaded owes the owner of the second application 500 twodollars. In one embodiment, it is predetermined (a.k.a., preprogrammed)that if the time that has expired between the promotional language beingsent and the application download being purchased is less than fiveminutes, then it is determined that the first application 565 waspurchased in response to the promotional language being sent. In thisscenario, the threshold time value is considered to be five minutes. Ofnote, it should be appreciated that the threshold time value may be anytime value determined via the owner of the purchased applicationdownload and the owner of the second application 500. The reference to“owner” in the context of the owner of the first application 565 and theowner of the second application 500 refers to the entity that isentitled to receive compensation. This may be the entity that owns thelegal rights to the application, even if an entity other than the owneris entitled to receive compensation on behalf of the owner. Thus, evenif entity “A” owns an application “Z” and the right to distributeapplication “Z” for compensation, if entity “A” contracts with entity“B” such that entity “B” is to receive the revenue generated from thesales of application “Z”, then, at least for purposes of thisapplication, even if a purchaser directly pays entity “B” for thedownload of application “Z”, the owner, entity “A” is still consideredto have received appropriate compensation for the sale of application“Z” (even though the money payment went directly to entity “B”).

In one embodiment, compensation representing a percentage of a purchaseprice of the first application 565 is determined if a threshold timeframe is met, wherein the threshold time frame includes a time periodbetween a sharing of information relating to the first application andthe purchase of the first application by the at least one contact. Forexample, the percentage, in terms of compensation, of the purchase priceof an application download is predetermined to be fifty percent of anapplication download, with the following condition: the time periodbetween the sharing of information relating to the first application 565and the purchase of the first application 565 by the at least onecontact of the set of contacts 835 from the list of the set of contacts620 is within a predetermined time period. If the application downloadcost eight dollars, the preprogrammed time period is ten minutes, andthe time between the sharing of the information relating to the firstapplication 565 and the purchase of the first application 565 by the atleast one contact 835B is measured at eight minutes, then it isdetermined that the compensation owed to the owner of the secondapplication 565 by the owner of the first application 565 is fourdollars (which is fifty percent of eight dollars). In variousembodiments, the information that is shared may be any informationassociated with the first application 565, such as, but not limited tobeing: other contacts of the user 555 using the first application 565;the gaming scores of other users of the first application 565; andinformation about a gaming application (e.g., popularity, ease of play,length of time to play).

In one embodiment, a percentage of the purchase price is determined tobe the money to be received for each time promotional language is sentand/or an application is purchased as a result of the promotionallanguage that was sent. For example, if an application download ispurchased for two dollars and the percentage compensation value is tenpercent, then the owner of the first application 565 owes the owner ofthe second application 500 twenty cents.

In one embodiment, an information sharer 918 shares, via thecommunication channel 902, information relating to the first application565, wherein the sharing includes sending the information relating tothe first application 565 to the at least one contact of the contacts ofthe set of contacts 835, such as, but not limited to, the followinginformation: popularity; ease of play; and length of time to play.

Example Method for Enabling Engagement Between a First Application on aDevice and a Set of Contacts Associated with a Second Application on theDevice

The following discussion sets forth in detail some example methods ofoperation of embodiments. With reference to FIGS. 8-10, the flow diagramof method 1000 illustrates an example procedure used by variousembodiments. Method 1000 includes some procedures that, in variousembodiments, are carried out by a processor under the control ofcomputer-readable and computer-executable instructions. In this fashion,procedures described herein and in conjunction with these flow diagrams,alone or in combination, are, or may be, implemented using a computer,in various embodiments. The computer-readable and computer-executableinstructions can reside in any tangible computer readable storage media.Some non-limiting examples of tangible computer readable storage mediainclude random access memory, read only memory, magnetic disks, andoptical disks, solid-state disks, any or all of which may be employedwithin a virtualization infrastructure. The computer-readable andcomputer-executable instructions, which reside on tangible computerreadable storage media, are used to control or operate in conjunctionwith, for example, one or some combination of processors of a virtualmachine. It is appreciated that the processor(s) may be physical orvirtual or some combination (it should also be appreciated that avirtual processor is implemented on physical hardware). Althoughspecific procedures are disclosed in method 1000, such procedures areexamples. That is, embodiments are well suited to performing variousother procedures or variations of the procedures recited in method 1000,alone or in combination. Likewise, in some embodiments, the proceduresin method 1000, alone or in combination, may be performed in an orderdifferent than presented and/or not all of the procedures described inone or more of these flow diagrams may be performed. It is furtherappreciated that procedures described in method 1000, alone or incombination, may be implemented in hardware, or a combination ofhardware with firmware and/or software.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a method 1000 for performing a method forenabling engagement between a first application on a device and a set ofcontacts associated with a second application on the device, inaccordance with an embodiment. Although specific procedures aredisclosed in method 1000, embodiments are well suited to performingvarious other procedures or variations of the procedures recited inmethod 1000. It is appreciated that the procedures in method 1000 may beperformed in an order different than presented, that not all of theprocedures in method 1000 may be performed, and that additionalprocedures to those illustrated and described may be performed. All of,or a portion of, the procedures described by method 1000 can beimplemented by a processor or computer system executing instructionswhich reside, for example, on computer-usable/readable media. Thefollowing discussion of method 1000 references FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 unlessspecifically noted otherwise.

At step 1005 of method 1000, in one embodiment and as described herein,an authentication token 512 is received at the first application 565from the second application 500, wherein the authentication token 512 isconfigured for providing an authentication pass to the server 540 whendelivered thereto by the first application 565, thereby allowing thefirst application 565 access to a set of messaging functionalities 545available at the server 540.

At step 1010 of method 1000, in one embodiment and as described herein,the authentication token 512 is delivered to the server 1010.

At step 1015 of method 1000, in one embodiment and as described herein,upon the authentication token 512 having been verified by the server540, the first application 565 is connected to, using the communicationplatform 825, the server 540, wherein the communication platform 825includes communication functionalities 830 configured for enablingcommunication with other devices.

At step 1020 of method 1000, in one embodiment and as described herein,the first application 565 communicates with contacts of the set ofcontacts 620 associated with the second application 500 using, via thecommunication platform 825, at least one messaging functionality of saidset of messaging functionalities 545.

At step 1025 of method 1000, in one embodiment and as described herein,the method 1000 further optionally includes: accessing a set of contactcriteria 904 at the first application 565, wherein the set of contactcriteria 904 defines for which of the contacts from the set of contacts620 that contact information 920 is to be retrieved; retrieving thecontact information 920 corresponding to the contacts, based upon theset of contact criteria 904; and communicating, via the communicationchannel 902 of the communication platform 825, with the contacts locatedat a plurality of devices other than the first device, such as device595.

At step 1030 of method 1000, including the operation at step 1025, inone embodiment and as described herein, promotional language isgenerated for sending to at least one contact of the contacts, whereinthe promotional language supports a purchase of the first application565 by at least one contact of the set of contacts 620.

At step 1035 of method 1000, including the operation at step 1030, inone embodiment and as described herein, the promotional language is sentto at least one contact.

At step 1040 of method 1000, including the operation at step 1035, inone embodiment and as described herein, compensation to be received forthe sending of the promotional language and/or the purchase of the firstapplication 565 is determined. In one embodiment, money is determined tobe received. In another embodiment, the compensation represents apercentage of a purchase price of the first application 565. In yetanother embodiment, the compensation represents a percentage of apurchase price of the first application 565 if a threshold time frame ismet, wherein the threshold time frame includes a time period between asharing of information relating to the first application 565 and thepurchase of the first application 565 by at least one contact.

At step 1045 of method 1000, including the operation at step 1040, inone embodiment and as described herein, the information relating to thefirst application 565 is shared, via the communication channel 902,wherein the sharing includes sending the information relating to thefirst application 565 to at least one contact of the contacts of the setof contacts 620

In one embodiment, the server 540 includes monitoring the third-partyapplications installed on the same device at which the first application565 (a.k.a. communication enabling application) is installed. Throughthis monitoring, the server 540 is able to determine the device'sinteraction with third-party applications. Thus, in one embodiment, theserver 540 is able to determine if a group of a set of contacts has thesame third-party application (e.g., gaming application) installed. Thisinformation is accessed (sent or retrieved) by the authenticationintermediary 505, in one embodiment, and used to provide a set ofcontacts 620 which may be of interest and use to the user 555 of thedevice 595. For example, the set of contacts 620, each of whom have adevice with the same third-party application installed, is invited tobecome part of a leader board, since each contact of the set of contacts620 has a device with the third-party application installed thereon.Additionally, every contact of the set of contacts 620 may be sentpromotional material geared toward selling game accessories (e.g.,avatars, rock smashing tools) for use with the third-party application.

Thus, embodiments provide a system and method for enabling engagementbetween a first application on a mobile device and a set of contactsassociated with a second application on the mobile device.

Section Three: A Messaging Functionality Distributor and Method forGenerating Revenue by Growing Sales of Third-Party Applications ExampleMessaging Functionality Distributor

FIG. 11 illustrates a messaging functionality distributor, in accordancewith an embodiment. The messaging functionality distributor 1100 islocated at a server 540. The server 540 supports the messaging functionsof a communication enabling application (e.g., Tango™), such as thesecond application 500. As will be further described herein, themessaging functionality distributor 1100 includes the following: a firstapplication launching indication request receiver 1105; anauthentication generator 1110; an authentication token sender 1115; anauthentication token receiver 1120; and a messaging functionalityprovider 1125. The server 540 further includes messaging functionalities1130.

It should be noted, as discussed herein, that the first application 565refers to a third-party application, while the second application 500refers to a communication enabling application. In one embodiment, thefirst application 565 includes the communication platform 825, as isalready discussed herein. In one embodiment, the communication platform825 includes the communication functionalities 830, as is alreadydiscussed herein. In one embodiment, the second application 500 islocated at a first device 1135. The first device 1135, in oneembodiment, is the device 595 discussed with reference to FIGS. 5-10.The first application 565 is located, in one embodiment, at the firstdevice 1135. In another embodiment, the first application 565 is locatedat a server separate from the server 540 and separate from the firstdevice 1135; however, the first device 1135 is configured to access thefirst application 565 via a network (not shown).

The first application launching indication request receiver 1105 iscoupled to the server 540. The first application launching indicationrequest receiver 1105 receives, from the second application located at afirst device 1135, an indication of a first application launchingrequest 575 (See FIGS. 5 and 6), as is described herein. The server 540includes a set of messaging functionalities 545 (one or more messagingfunctionalities) that are available for implementation by the secondapplication 500 and are available for implementation by the firstapplication 565 upon delivery of the authentication token 515 from thefirst application to the server 540. It should be appreciated that theserver 540, in one embodiment, has stored thereon more and/or differentmessaging functionalities that are available for implementation at andthrough the first application 565 than those messaging functionalitiesavailable for implementation at and through the second application 500.

The authentication token generator 1110, based on the first applicationlaunching request 575, generates the authentication token 512, whereinthe authentication token 512 provides an authentication pass to theserver 540 when delivered thereto by the first application 500, therebyallowing the first application 500 access to the messagingfunctionalities 545 located at the server 540.

The authentication token sender 1115 sends the authentication token 512to the second application 500 for delivery to the first application 565.The second application 500 then delivers the authentication token 512 tothe first application 565.

The authentication token receiver 1120 receives the authentication token512 from the first application 565.

The messaging functionality provider 1125 provides access to the set ofmessaging functionalities 545 for implementation by the firstapplication 500. The messaging functionalities 545 are communicated overa communication platform 825 of the first application 565, wherein saidcommunication platform 825 includes communication functionalities 830that enable communication with a second device, wherein the first device1135 and the second device are different. In various embodiments, thesecond device is any device capable of communicating with the firstdevice via teleconferencing, such as a mobile phone, a tablet, a desktopcomputer, a laptop computer, etc.

As is described herein, the set of messaging functionalities includesany, but are not limited to, the following: communication in video form;communication in audio form; a presentation of a portion of the firstapplication 565 in a selected view; and presenting promotional languageto a second device, wherein the promotional language promotes a purchaseof an application by a user of the second device, wherein the firstdevice 1135 and the second device are different. In one embodiment, thethird-party application that is being promoted to be purchased isdifferent from the first application 565. For example, the third-partyapplication may be in the same genre as the first application 565. Forinstance, if the first application 565 is an airplane flyingapplication, then the third-party application being promoted may be ahelicopter flying application. This cross-promotional concept isdiscussed herein in Section Two above. As is also discussed in SectionTwo above, compensation for the presentation of such promotionallanguage to another device is calculated, in one embodiment, accordingto various preprogrammed methods. Upon the sale of an installment of thefirst application 565 on a second device (that is different from thefirst device 1135), a portion of this compensation, in one embodiment,is sent to the owner of the second application 500, while anotherportion is sent to the owner of the first application 565.

Example Operation of a Method for Generating Revenue by Growing Sales ofThird-Party Applications

The following discussion sets forth in detail some example methods ofoperation of embodiments. With reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B, the flowdiagrams of methods 1200 and 1230, respectively, illustrate an exampleprocedure used by various embodiments. Methods 1200 and 1230 includesome procedures that, in various embodiments, are carried out by aprocessor under the control of computer-readable and computer-executableinstructions. In this fashion, procedures described herein and inconjunction with these flow diagrams, alone or in combination, are, ormay be, implemented using a computer, in various embodiments. Thecomputer-readable and computer-executable instructions can reside in anytangible computer readable storage media. Some non-limiting examples oftangible computer readable storage media include random access memory,read only memory, magnetic disks, and optical disks, solid-state disks,any or all of which may be employed within a virtualizationinfrastructure. The computer-readable and computer-executableinstructions, which reside on tangible computer readable storage media,are used to control or operate in conjunction with, for example, one orsome combination of processors of a virtual machine. It is appreciatedthat the processor(s) may be physical or virtual or some combination (itshould also be appreciated that a virtual processor is implemented onphysical hardware). Although specific procedures are disclosed inmethods 1200 and 1230, such procedures are examples. That is,embodiments are well suited to performing various other procedures orvariations of the procedures recited in methods 1200 and 1230, alone orin combination. Likewise, in some embodiments, the procedures in methods1200 and 1230, alone or in combination, may be performed in an orderdifferent than presented and/or not all of the procedures described inone or more of these flow diagrams may be performed. It is furtherappreciated that procedures described in methods 1200 and 1230, alone orin combination, may be implemented in hardware, or a combination ofhardware with firmware and/or software.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are flow diagrams of methods 1200 and 1230,respectively, for performing a method for generating revenue by growingsales of third-party applications, in accordance with an embodiment.Although specific procedures are disclosed in methods 1200 and 1230,embodiments are well suited to performing various other procedures orvariations of the procedures recited in methods 1200 and 1230. It isappreciated that the procedures in methods 1200 and 1230 may beperformed in an order different than presented, that not all of theprocedures in methods 1200 and 1230 may be performed, and thatadditional procedures to those illustrated and described may beperformed. All of, or a portion of, the procedures described by methods1200 and 1230 can be implemented by a processor or computer systemexecuting instructions which reside, for example, oncomputer-usable/readable media. The following discussion of methods 1200and 1230 references FIGS. 5-12B unless specifically noted otherwise.

At step 1205 of method 1200, in one embodiment and as described herein,the server 540 that is communicatively coupled with said secondapplication 500 receives from the second application 500, that islocated at a first device 1135, an indication of the first applicationlaunching request 575. The server 540 includes a set of messagingfunctionalities 545 that is available for implementation by the secondapplication 500 and is available for implementation by the firstapplication 565 upon delivery of the authentication token 512 from thefirst application 565 to the server 540. In one embodiment, the set ofmessaging functionalities that is available, at the server 540, forimplementation by the second application 500 is the same as the set ofmessaging functionalities that is available, at the server 540, forimplementation by the first application 565. However, in anotherembodiment, the set of messaging functionalities that is available, atthe server 540, for implementation by the second application 500 isdifferent than the set of messaging functionalities that is available,at the server 540, for implementation by the first application 565. Forexample, in one embodiment, the set of messaging functionalitiesavailable to be implemented by the first application 565 includessending promotional material, for the purchase of the first application565, to a set of contacts garnered from the list of contacts associatedwith the second application 500. However, in this same example, the setof messaging functionalities available to be implemented by the secondapplication 500 does not include the promotional material thatencourages the sale of the first application 565 to a set of contactsassociated with the second application 500. However, in anotherembodiment, the set of messaging functionalities available to both thefirst application 565 and the second application 500 for implementationincludes the presentation of various views of different content on adisplay screen (See FIGS. 1 and 2).

At step 1210 of method 1200, in one embodiment and as described herein,based on the receiving at step 1205 of the indication of the firstapplication launching request 535, an authentication token 512 isgenerated. The authentication token 512 provides an authentication passto the server 540 when delivered thereto by the first application 565,thereby allowing the first application 565 access to the set ofmessaging functionalities 545.

At step 1215 of method 1200, in one embodiment and as described herein,the authentication token 512 is sent to the second application 500 fordelivery to the first application 565.

At step 1220 of method 1200, in one embodiment and as described herein,the authentication token 512 is received from the first application 565.Further, at step 1220, after receiving the authentication token 512, theset of messaging functionalities 545 is made available forimplementation by the first application 565. The set of messagingfunctionalities 545 are accessed over a communication platform 825 ofthe first application 565, wherein the communication platform 825includes the communication functionalities 830 for enablingcommunication with the second device 500. The first device 1135 and thesecond device are different, as is discussed herein.

The providing of the set of messaging functionalities 545 at step 1220includes: enabling a form of communication, via teleconferencing,wherein the form of communication any of, but not limited to being, thefollowing: an audio of the first application 565; a video of the firstapplication 565; selectable views for presenting the first application565; a presentation of promotional language to the second device,wherein the promotional language promotes a purchase of an applicationby a user of the second device, wherein the first device 1135 and thesecond device are different.

With reference now to FIG. 12B, at step 1235 of method 1230, in oneembodiment and as described herein, an authentication token 512 isreceived from the first application 565 located at the first device 1135and at a server 540 communicatively coupled with the first application1135. The authentication token 512 is configured for providing anauthentication pass to the server 540 when delivered thereto by thefirst application 565, thereby allowing the first application 565 accessto the set of messaging functionalities 545 located at the server 540and capable of being implemented on the second application 500.

At step 1240 of method 1230, in one embodiment and as described herein,after the receiving the authentication token 512 from the firstapplication 565 of step 1235, a connection is provided between theserver 540 and the first application 565, wherein the connection enablesthe set of messaging functionalities 545 that reside at the server 540and that are available for implementation by the second application 500to be available for implementation by the first application 565. The setof messaging functionalities 545 are communicated over a communicationplatform 825 of the first application 565, wherein the communicationplatform 825 includes communication functionalities 830 configured forenabling communication with a second device, wherein the first device1135 and the second device are different.

At step 1245 of method 1230, in one embodiment and as described herein,the steps of 1234 and 1240 further include: receiving, from the secondapplication 500 located at the first device 1135 and at the server 540communicatively coupled with the second application 500, an indication535 of a first application launching request; based on the indication535 of the first application launching request, generating anauthentication token 512; and sending the authentication token 512 tothe second application 500 for delivery to the first application 565.

At step 1250, in one embodiment and as described herein, the step at1245 further includes providing access to the set of messagingfunctionalities 545 for implementation by the first application 565. Invarious embodiments, the providing access to the set of messagingfunctionalities 545 includes enabling a form of communication, viateleconferencing, wherein the form of communication may be any of thefollowing: video; audio; a set of selectable views for presenting aportion of the first application 565; and a presentation of promotionallanguage to the second device, wherein the promotional language promotesa purchase of an application by a user of the second device, wherein thefirst device 1135 and the second device are different.

Thus, embodiments provide methods and systems for generating revenue bypromoting third-party application sales and garnering a percentage ofsuch sales. Further, embodiments provide methods and systems forincreasing the membership to and installation of communication enablingapplications.

Example Computer System Environment

With reference now to FIG. 13, all or portions of some embodimentsdescribed herein are composed of computer-readable andcomputer-executable instructions that reside, for example, incomputer-usable/computer-readable storage media of a computer system.That is, FIG. 13 illustrates one example of a type of computer (computersystem 1300) that can be used in accordance with or to implement variousembodiments which are discussed herein. It is appreciated that computersystem 1300 of FIG. 13 is only an example and that embodiments asdescribed herein can operate on or within a number of different computersystems including, but not limited to, general purpose networkedcomputer systems, embedded computer systems, routers, switches, serverdevices, client devices, various intermediate devices/nodes, stand alonecomputer systems, distributed computer systems, media centers, handheldcomputer systems, multi-media devices, and the like. Computer system1300 of FIG. 13 is well adapted to having peripheral non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media 1302 such as, for example, a floppydisk, a compact disc, digital versatile disc, other disc based storage,universal serial bus “thumb” drive, removable memory card, and the likecoupled thereto.

System 1300 of FIG. 13 includes an address/data bus 1304 forcommunicating information, and a processor 1306A coupled with bus 1304for processing information and instructions. As depicted in FIG. 13,system 1300 is also well suited to a multi-processor environment inwhich a plurality of processors 1306A, 1306B, and 1306C are present.Conversely, system 1300 is also well suited to having a single processorsuch as, for example, processor 1306A. Processors 1306A, 1306B, and1306C may be any of various types of microprocessors. System 1300 alsoincludes data storage features such as a computer usable volatile memory1308, e.g., random access memory (RAM), coupled with bus 1304 forstoring information and instructions for processors 1306A, 1306B, and1306C.

System 1300 also includes computer usable non-volatile memory 1310,e.g., read only memory (ROM), coupled with bus 1304 for storing staticinformation and instructions for processors 1306A, 1306B, and 1306C.Also present in system 1300 is a data storage unit 1312 (e.g., amagnetic or optical disk and disk drive) coupled with bus 1304 forstoring information and instructions. System 1300 also includes anoptional alphanumeric input device 1314 including alphanumeric andfunction keys coupled with bus 1304 for communicating information andcommand selections to processor 1306A or processors 1306A, 1306B, and1306C. System 1300 also includes an optional cursor control device 1316coupled with bus 1304 for communicating user input information andcommand selections to processor 1306A or processors 1306A, 1306B, and1306C. In one embodiment, system 1300 also includes an optional displaydevice 1318 coupled with bus 1304 for displaying information.

Referring still to FIG. 13, optional display device 1318 of FIG. 13 maybe a liquid crystal device, cathode ray tube, plasma display device orother display device suitable for creating graphic images andalphanumeric characters recognizable to a user. Optional cursor controldevice 1316 allows the computer user to dynamically signal the movementof a visible symbol (cursor) on a display screen of display device 1318and indicate user selections of selectable items displayed on displaydevice 1318. Many implementations of cursor control device 1316 areknown in the art including a trackball, mouse, touch pad, joystick orspecial keys on alphanumeric input device 1314 capable of signalingmovement of a given direction or manner of displacement. Alternatively,it will be appreciated that a cursor can be directed and/or activatedvia input from alphanumeric input device 1314 using special keys and keysequence commands. System 1300 is also well suited to having a cursordirected by other means such as, for example, voice commands. System1300 also includes an I/O device 1320 for coupling system 1300 withexternal entities. For example, in one embodiment, I/O device 1320 is amodem for enabling wired or wireless communications between system 1300and an external network such as, but not limited to, the Internet.

Referring still to FIG. 13, various other components are depicted forsystem 1300. Specifically, when present, an operating system 1322,applications 1324, modules 1326, and data 1328 are shown as typicallyresiding in one or some combination of computer usable volatile memory1308 (e.g., RAM), computer usable non-volatile memory 1310 (e.g., ROM),and data storage unit 1312. In some embodiments, all or portions ofvarious embodiments described herein are stored, for example, as anapplication 1324 and/or module 1326 in memory locations within RAM 1308,computer-readable storage media within data storage unit 1312,peripheral computer-readable storage media 1302, and/or other tangiblecomputer-readable storage media.

What I claim is:
 1. A non-transitory computer readable storage mediumhaving stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, whenexecuted by a computer, cause said computer to perform a method forenabling engagement between a first application on a device and a set ofcontacts associated with a second application on said device, saidmethod comprising: receiving, at a first application on a device, anauthentication token from a second application on said device, whereinsaid authentication token is configured for providing an authenticationpass to a server when delivered thereto by said first application,thereby allowing said first application access to a set of messagingfunctionalities available at said server; delivering said authenticationtoken to said server; upon said authentication token having beenverified by said server, connecting, using a communication platform, tosaid server, wherein said communication platform comprises communicationfunctionalities configured for enabling communication with otherdevices; and said first application communicating with contacts of a setof contacts associated with said second application using, via saidcommunication platform, at least one messaging functionality of said setof messaging functionalities.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: accessing a set of contact criteria at said firstapplication, wherein said set of contact criteria defines for which ofsaid contacts from said set of contacts that contact information is tobe retrieved; retrieving said contact information corresponding to saidcontacts, based upon said set of contact criteria; and communicating,via a communication channel of said communication platform, with saidcontacts located at a plurality of devices other than said device. 3.The method of claim 2, further comprising: generating promotionallanguage for sending to at least one contact of said contacts, whereinsaid promotional language supports a purchase of said first applicationby said at least one contact.
 4. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising: sending said promotional language to said at least onecontact.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: determiningcompensation to be received for at least one of said sending of saidpromotional language and said purchase of said first application.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein said determining compensation to be receivedfor at least one of sending said promotional language and said purchasecomprises: determining money to be received for at least one of saidsending said promotional language and said purchase.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein said determining money to be received for at least oneof said sending said promotional language and said purchase comprises:determining compensation representing a percentage of a purchase priceof said first application.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein saiddetermining compensation representing a percentage of a purchase priceof said first application comprises: determining compensationrepresenting a percentage of a purchase price of said first applicationif a threshold time frame is met, wherein said threshold time framecomprises a time period between a sharing of information relating tosaid first application and said purchase of said first application bysaid at least one contact.
 9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:sharing, via said communication channel, information relating to saidfirst application, wherein said sharing comprises: sending saidinformation relating to said first application to at least one contactof said contacts.
 10. A communication facilitator for enablingengagement between a first application on a device and a set of contactsassociated with a second application on said device, wherein saidcommunication facilitator comprises: an authentication token receiverconfigured for receiving, at a first application on a device, anauthentication token from a second application on said device, whereinsaid authentication token is configured for providing an authenticationpass to a server when delivered thereto by said first application,thereby allowing said first application access to a set of messagingfunctionalities available at said server; an authentication tokendeliverer configured for delivering said authentication token to saidserver; a connector configured for, upon said authentication tokenhaving been verified by said server, connecting, using a communicationplatform, to said server, wherein said communication platform comprisescommunication functionalities configured for enabling communication withother devices; and a communicator configured for communicating usingsaid first application with a set of contacts associated with saidsecond application using, via said communication platform, at least onemessaging functionality of said set of messaging functionalities. 11.The communication facilitator of claim 10, further comprising: acriteria accessor configured for accessing a set of contact criteria atsaid first application, wherein said contact criteria defines for whichof said contacts from said set of contacts that contact information isto be retrieved; a contact retriever configured for retrieving saidcontact information corresponding to said contacts, based upon said setof contact criteria; and a communication channel communicator configuredfor communicating, via a communication channel of said communicationplatform, with said contacts located at a plurality of devices otherthan said device.
 12. The communication facilitator of claim 11, furthercomprising: a promotional language generator configured for generatingpromotional language for sending to at least one contact of saidcontacts, wherein said promotional language supports a purchase of saidfirst application by said at least one contact.
 13. The communicationfacilitator of claim 12, further comprising: a promotional languagesender configured for sending said promotional language to said at leastone contact.
 14. The communication facilitator of claim 13, furthercomprising: a compensation determiner configured for determiningcompensation to be received for at least one of said sending saidpromotional language and said purchase.
 15. The communicationfacilitator of claim 11, further comprising: an information sharerconfigured for sharing, via said communication channel, informationrelating to said first application, wherein said sharing comprises:sending said information relating to said first application to at leastone contact of said contacts.
 16. A computer implemented method forenabling engagement between a first application on a device and a set ofcontacts associated with a second application on said device, saidmethod comprising: receiving, at a first application on a device, anauthentication token from a second application on said device, whereinsaid authentication token is configured for providing an authenticationpass to a server when delivered thereto by said first application,thereby allowing said first application access to a set of messagingfunctionalities available at said server; delivering said authenticationtoken to said server; upon said authentication token having beenverified by said server, connecting, using a communication platform, tosaid server, wherein said communication platform comprises communicationfunctionalities configured for enabling communication with otherdevices; and said first application communicating with contacts of a setof contacts associated with said second application using, via saidcommunication platform, at least one messaging functionality of said setof messaging functionalities.
 17. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising: accessing a set of contact criteria at said firstapplication, wherein said contact criteria defines said contacts to beretrieved from said set of contacts; retrieving said contacts, basedupon said set of contact criteria; and communicating, via acommunication channel of said communication platform, with said contactslocated at a plurality of devices other than said device.
 18. The methodof claim 17, further comprising: generating promotional language forsending to at least one contact of said contacts, wherein saidpromotional language supports a purchase of said first application bysaid at least one contact.
 19. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising: sending said promotional language to said at least onecontact.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: determiningcompensation to be received for at least one of said sending saidpromotional language and said purchase of said first application.